U.S. patent application number 14/341131 was filed with the patent office on 2015-04-30 for fuel processor and hydrogen purification device thereof.
The applicant listed for this patent is Coretronic Corporation. Invention is credited to JIE-REN KU, YI-CHUN LIN, YU-HSIANG LIN, YU-WEN LU, CHUNG-PING WANG.
Application Number | 20150118128 14/341131 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52995710 |
Filed Date | 2015-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150118128 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LU; YU-WEN ; et al. |
April 30, 2015 |
FUEL PROCESSOR AND HYDROGEN PURIFICATION DEVICE THEREOF
Abstract
A hydrogen purification device including a container, a first
opening structure and a second opening structure is provided. The
container has at least a filter material inside. The first opening
structure is disposed in the container, wherein hydrogen-rich gas
mixture flows into the container via the first opening structure so
that purified hydrogen gas is generated by conducting a reaction
between the hydrogen-rich gas mixture and the filter material.
Besides, a second opening structure is disposed in the container,
wherein the purified hydrogen gas flows away from the container via
the second opening structure. A fuel processor having the hydrogen
purification device is also provided.
Inventors: |
LU; YU-WEN; (Hsinchu County,
TW) ; KU; JIE-REN; (Hsinchu County, TW) ;
WANG; CHUNG-PING; (Hsinchu County, TW) ; LIN;
YU-HSIANG; (Hsinchu County, TW) ; LIN; YI-CHUN;
(Hsinchu County, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Coretronic Corporation |
Hsin-Chu |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
52995710 |
Appl. No.: |
14/341131 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
422/616 ;
422/222 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 60/36 20130101;
B01J 41/07 20170101; Y02E 60/50 20130101; H01M 2250/20 20130101;
B01J 39/05 20170101; B01J 47/012 20170101; Y02T 90/40 20130101;
H01M 8/065 20130101; C01B 3/501 20130101; B01J 43/00 20130101; B01J
41/05 20170101; B01J 45/00 20130101; B01J 39/07 20170101 |
Class at
Publication: |
422/616 ;
422/222 |
International
Class: |
H01M 8/06 20060101
H01M008/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 30, 2013 |
CN |
201310526769.2 |
Claims
1. A hydrogen purification device, applied to a portable power
system of hydrogen energy, comprising: a container having at least
a filter material inside; a first opening structure disposed in the
container, wherein hydrogen-rich gas mixture flows into the
container via the first opening structure and purified hydrogen gas
is generated by conducting a reaction between the hydrogen-rich gas
mixture and the filter material; and a second opening structure
disposed in the container, wherein the purified hydrogen gas flows
away from the container via the second opening structure.
2. The hydrogen purification device according to claim 1, wherein
the filter material including an organic material and an inorganic
material is disposed between the first opening structure and the
second opening structure.
3. The hydrogen purification device according to claim 2, wherein
the organic material is disposed on inner peripheries of the
container and wraps the inorganic material.
4. The hydrogen purification device according to claim 2, wherein
the filter material further includes a solid acid salt, and further
wherein the organic material and the inorganic material are
disposed between the solid acid salt and the second opening
structure.
5. The hydrogen purification device according to claim 4, wherein
the solid acid salt includes one selected from an organic acid
group consisting of citric acid, malic acid, oxalic acid, acetic
acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, and lactic acid, or a random
combination thereof.
6. The hydrogen purification device according to claim 2, wherein
the filter material further includes a liquid acid, and further
wherein the organic material and the inorganic material are
disposed between the liquid acid and the second opening
structure.
7. The hydrogen purification device according to claim 6, wherein
the liquid acid includes one selected from an inorganic acid group
consisting of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and nitric acid, or
a random combination thereof.
8. The hydrogen purification device according to claim 2, wherein
the organic material includes one selected from a group consisting
of an ion exchange resin, cellulose, dextran gel, agarose gel, and
humus, or a random combination thereof.
9. The hydrogen purification device according to claim 8, wherein
the ion exchange resin includes one selected from a high polymer
resin group consisting of a styrene series, an acrylic acid series,
an acetate series, an epoxy series, a vinyl pyridine series, a urea
formaldehyde series, and a vinyl chloride series, or a random
combination thereof.
10. The hydrogen purification device according to claim 8, wherein
the ion exchange resin includes one selected from a group
consisting of a strong acid type, a weak acid type, a strong base
type, a weak base type, a chelating type, an amphoteric type, and a
redox type, or a random combination thereof.
11. The hydrogen purification device according to claim 2, wherein
the inorganic material includes one selected from a group
consisting of acid salts, alumina, activated carbon, zeolites,
molecular sieves, and montmorillonite, or a random combination
thereof.
12. The hydrogen purification device according to claim 2, wherein
the filter material further includes a water absorbent material
disposed between the first opening structure and the second opening
structure.
13. The hydrogen purification device according to claim 12, wherein
the water absorbent material includes cotton fibers mixed with one
selected from a water absorbent polymer group consisting of
polyacrylate, polyvinyl alcohol, vinyl acetate copolymers,
polyurethane, polyethylene oxide, starch graft copolymers, rubber
blends, and ion exchange resin, or a random combination
thereof.
14. The hydrogen purification device according to claim 12, wherein
the water absorbent material includes cotton fibers mixed with one
selected from an inorganic water absorbent group consisting of
crystalline aluminum silicate, calcium chloride, calcium oxide,
anhydrous cobalt chloride, anhydrous copper sulfate, silica gel,
clay, alumina, activated carbon, zeolites, and molecular sieves, or
a random combination thereof.
15. A fuel processor, applied to a portable power system of
hydrogen energy having a fuel cell, comprising: a hydrogen
generation device having a solid hydrogen fuel and water disposed
therein and used to produce hydrogen-rich gas mixture by conducting
a reaction between the solid hydrogen fuel and water; a hydrogen
purification device including: a container having at least a filter
material inside; a first opening structure disposed in the
container, wherein the hydrogen-rich gas mixture flows into the
container via the first opening structure and purified hydrogen gas
is generated by conducting a reaction between the hydrogen-rich gas
mixture and the filter material; and a second opening structure
disposed in the container, wherein the purified hydrogen gas flows
away from the container via the second opening structure into the
fuel cell.
16. The fuel processor according to claim 15, wherein the solid
hydrogen fuel includes one selected from a group consisting of
borohydride, metal borohydride, nitrogen hydride, metal hydride,
boron-nitrogen hydride, metal nitrogen hydride, metal
boron-nitrogen hydride, metal carbon-nitrogen hydride, hydrocarbon,
boron hydrocarbon, nitrogen hydrocarbon, metal hydrocarbon, metal
boron hydrocarbon, boron-nitrogen hydrocarbon, and metal
boron-nitrogen hydrocarbon, or a random combination thereof.
17. The fuel processor according to claim 15, wherein the solid
hydrogen fuel includes one selected from a group consisting of
ammonia borane, diammoniate of diborane, poly(aminoborane),
borazine, Morpholineborane, borane tetrahydrofuran complex, and
diborane, or a random combination thereof.
18. The fuel processor according to claim 15, wherein the hydrogen
generation device further includes a catalyst mixed with the solid
hydrogen fuel, wherein the catalyst includes solid acid or solid
salt having ruthenium, cobalt, nickel, copper or iron.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a fuel processor and a hydrogen
purification device thereof, and more particularly to a fuel
processor and a hydrogen purification device thereof applied to a
portable power system of hydrogen energy.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In recent years, mobile electronic products, such as, tablet
computers, cameras, and smart phones, are increasingly developed.
It is observed that almost everyone has one or many. However, high
power consumption of mobile electronic products is very
troublesome. It is desirable to develop a cell having advantage of
cheap price, long-time power supply, small volume, light weight and
is suitable for various mobile electronic products.
[0003] Generally, fuel cells are cheap and of long-time power
supply. However, consuming hydrogen gas, the fuel cells usually
must offer enough space for hydrogen supply. Thus, the volume of
fuel cells is too large to apply to various mobile electronic
products. Hence, there is a strong need for solving problems of
hydrogen supply for a small portable power system of hydrogen
energy.
[0004] US Patent Publication No. 20030192251 discloses a fuel
processing system including a fuel processor, wherein the fuel
processor includes a hydrogen-producing region and a separation
region. US Patent Publication No. 20080044696 discloses a hydrogen
generation cartridge for supplying hydrogen gas to a fuel cell
system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with one aspect, the invention provides a
hydrogen purification device applied to a portable power system of
hydrogen energy. The hydrogen purification device includes a
container, a first opening structure and a second opening
structure. The container has at least a filter material inside. The
first opening structure is disposed in the container, wherein
hydrogen-rich gas mixture flows into the container via the first
opening structure so that purified hydrogen gas is generated by
conducting a reaction between the hydrogen-rich gas mixture and the
filter material. Besides, a second opening structure is disposed in
the container, wherein the purified hydrogen gas flows away from
the container via the second opening structure.
[0006] In one embodiment, the filter material including an organic
material and an inorganic material is disposed between the first
opening structure and the second opening structure.
[0007] In one embodiment, the organic material is disposed on inner
peripheries of the container and wraps the inorganic material.
[0008] In one embodiment, the filter material further includes a
solid acid salt, wherein the organic material and the inorganic
material are disposed between the solid acid salt and the second
opening structure.
[0009] In one embodiment, the filter material further includes a
liquid acid, wherein the organic material and the inorganic
material are disposed between the liquid acid and the second
opening structure.
[0010] In one embodiment, the organic material includes one
selected from a group consisting of an ion exchange resin,
cellulose, dextran gel, agarose gel, and humus, or a combination
thereof.
[0011] In one embodiment, the ion exchange resin includes one
selected from a high polymer resin group consisting of a styrene
series, an acrylic acid series, an acetate series, an epoxy series,
a vinyl pyridine series, a urea formaldehyde series, and a vinyl
chloride series, or a combination thereof.
[0012] In one embodiment, the ion exchange resin includes one
selected from a group consisting of a strong acid type, a weak acid
type, a strong base type, a weak base type, a chelating type, an
amphoteric type, and a redox type, or a combination thereof.
[0013] In one embodiment, the inorganic material includes one
selected from a group consisting of acid salts, alumina, activated
carbon, zeolites, molecular sieves, and montmorillonite, or a
combination thereof.
[0014] In one embodiment, the filter material further includes a
water absorbent material disposed between the first opening
structure and the second opening structure.
[0015] In accordance with another aspect, the invention provides a
fuel processor applied to a portable power system of hydrogen
energy having a fuel cell. The fuel processor includes a hydrogen
generation device and a hydrogen purification device. The hydrogen
generation device has a solid hydrogen fuel and water disposed
therein and is used to produce hydrogen-rich gas mixture by
conducting a reaction between the solid hydrogen fuel and water.
The hydrogen purification device includes a container, a first
opening structure and a second opening structure. The container has
at least a filter material inside. The first opening structure is
disposed in the container, wherein the hydrogen-rich gas mixture
flows into the container via the first opening structure so that
purified hydrogen gas is generated by conducting a reaction between
the hydrogen-rich gas mixture and the filter material. Besides, the
second opening structure is disposed in the container, wherein the
purified hydrogen gas flows away from the container via the second
opening structure into the fuel cell.
[0016] In one embodiment, the solid hydrogen fuel includes one
selected from a group consisting of borohydride, metal borohydride,
nitrogen hydride, metal hydride, boron-nitrogen hydride, metal
nitrogen hydride, metal boron-nitrogen hydride, metal
carbon-nitrogen hydride, hydrocarbon, boron hydrocarbon, nitrogen
hydrocarbon, metal hydrocarbon, metal boron hydrocarbon,
boron-nitrogen hydrocarbon, and metal boron-nitrogen hydrocarbon,
or a combination thereof.
[0017] In one embodiment, the solid hydrogen fuel includes one
selected from a group consisting of ammonia borane
(H.sub.3BNH.sub.3), diammoniate of diborane
(H.sub.2B(NH.sub.3).sub.2BH.sub.4), poly-(aminoborane), borazine
(B.sub.3N.sub.3H.sub.6), Morpholineborane (MPB), borane
tetrahydrofuran complex, and diborane, or a combination
thereof.
[0018] Other objectives, features and advantages of the invention
will be further understood from the further technological features
disclosed by the embodiments of the present invention wherein there
are shown and described preferred embodiments of this invention,
simply by way of illustration of modes best suited to carry out the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The invention will become more readily apparent to those
ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following
detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a portable power system of
hydrogen energy in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a hydrogen purification
device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and
[0022] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a fuel processor in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention in a cross-section
view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] In the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which
form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration
specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In
this regard, directional terminology, such as "top," "bottom,"
"front," "back," etc., is used with reference to the orientation of
the Figure(s) being described. The components of the invention can
be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the
directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is
in no way limiting. On the other hand, the drawings are only
schematic and the sizes of components may be exaggerated for
clarity. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be
utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from
the scope of the invention. Also, it is to be understood that the
phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of
description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of
"including," "comprising," or "having" and variations thereof
herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and
equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Similarly, the
term "adjacent to" and variations thereof herein are used broadly
and encompass directly and indirectly "adjacent to". Therefore, the
description of "A" component "adjacent to" "B" component herein may
contain the situations that "A" component is directly "adjacent to"
"B" component or one or more additional components are between "A"
component and "B" component. Accordingly, the drawings and
descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as
restrictive.
[0024] With reference to FIG. 1, a portable power system of
hydrogen energy in accordance with one embodiment of the invention
is schematically illustrated. The portable power system of hydrogen
energy 100 includes a control panel 10, a fuel processor 20 and a
fuel cell 30. The fuel processor 20 has a hydrogen generation
device 21 used to produce hydrogen gas serving as an energy source
of a fuel cell 30 for generating electricity. The fuel cell 30 may
convert chemical energy of the hydrogen gas into electrical energy.
The hydrogen gas may be generated by conducting a chemical reaction
between a hydrogen fuel and water. And a solid hydrogen fuel has
advantage of high density of hydrogen storage resulting in the goal
of cheap price, convenience, small volume, light weight and stable
rate of hydrogen supply. Thus, a solid hydrogen fuel 213 is
disposed inside the hydrogen generation device 21. In the hydrogen
generation device 21, water in a bag 212 is pushed by a pump 211 to
flow towards and contact the solid hydrogen fuel 213 for producing
hydrogen gas. Besides, the pump rate of the pump 211 may be
determined by the control panel 10 detecting amount of electricity
generated by the fuel cell 30.
[0025] The solid hydrogen fuel 213 may include one selected from a
group consisting of borohydride, metal borohydride, nitrogen
hydride, metal hydride, boron-nitrogen hydride, metal nitrogen
hydride, metal boron-nitrogen hydride, metal carbon-nitrogen
hydride, hydrocarbon, boron hydrocarbon, nitrogen hydrocarbon,
metal hydrocarbon, metal boron hydrocarbon, boron-nitrogen
hydrocarbon, and metal boron-nitrogen hydrocarbon, or a random
combination thereof. The solid hydrogen fuel 213 may also include
one selected from a group consisting of ammonia borane
(H.sub.3BNH.sub.3), diammoniate of diborane
(H.sub.2B(NH.sub.3).sub.2BH.sub.4), poly-(aminoborane), borazine
(B.sub.3N.sub.3H.sub.6), Morpholineborane (MPB), borane
tetrahydrofuran complex, and diborane, or a combination thereof.
For example, the following chemical reaction equation shows that
sodium borohydride (NaBH.sub.4), as the solid hydrogen fuel 213,
reacts with water to produce hydrogen gas:
NaBH.sub.4+2H.sub.2O.fwdarw.4H.sub.2+NaBO.sub.2
[0026] In order to increasing the reaction rate of the solid
hydrogen fuel and water, a catalyst (not shown) may be mixed with
the solid hydrogen fuel 213 in the hydrogen generation device 21.
The catalyst may include solid acid or solid salt having ruthenium,
cobalt, nickel, copper or iron.
[0027] Hydrogen-rich gas mixture 21a may be produced while the
chemical reaction of solid hydrogen fuel 213 and water is
conducted. That is, the hydrogen-rich gas mixture 21a includes not
only hydrogen gas but also strong alkaline aerosol, ammonia and
steam resulting from reaction heat. The performance of the fuel
cell 30 would be impaired or even destroyed while the hydrogen-rich
gas mixture 21a flows into the fuel cells 30. Thus, it is important
to purify the hydrogen-rich gas mixture 21a.
[0028] A hydrogen purification device 22 in accordance with one
embodiment of the invention is provided. Please refer to FIG. 1 and
FIG. 2. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a hydrogen purification
device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. A
hydrogen purification device 22 may be disposed in the fuel
processor 20 shown in FIG. 1. A hydrogen purification device 22
includes a container 220, a first opening structure 23 and a second
opening structure 24. The first opening structure 23 and a second
opening structure 24 are disposed in the container 220. It is to be
noted that at least a filter material is placed inside the
container 220 and between the first opening structure 23 and a
second opening structure 24. In the embodiment of the invention,
the hydrogen purification device 22 has the two opening structures
23 and 24 only. The hydrogen-rich gas mixture 21a flows into the
container 220 via the first opening structure 23, and then the
hydrogen-rich gas mixture 21a would pass through the filter
material and flow toward the second opening structure 24. Between
the two opening structures 23 and 24, the filter material may react
with the hydrogen-rich gas mixture 21a to remove non-hydrogen
substances, such as, alkaline aerosol/gas, ammonia or water/steam,
to generate purified hydrogen gas 22a which includes at least
substantially pure hydrogen gas. The goal of separating hydrogen
gas from non-hydrogen substances may be achieved thereby. Then, the
purified hydrogen gas 22a flows from the container 220 into the
fuel cell 30 via the second opening structure 24.
[0029] In one embodiment of the invention, the filter material used
by the hydrogen purification device 22 may contain an organic
material or inorganic material or a combination thereof. The
organic material may include one selected from a group consisting
of an ion exchange resin, cellulose, dextran gel, agarose gel, and
humus, or a random combination thereof. The inorganic material may
include one selected from a group consisting of acid salts,
alumina, activated carbon, zeolites, molecular sieves, and
montmorillonite, or a random combination thereof. Moreover, the ion
exchange resin may include one selected from a high polymer resin
group consisting of a styrene series, an acrylic acid series, an
acetate series, an epoxy series, a vinyl pyridine series, a urea
formaldehyde series, and a vinyl chloride series, or a random
combination thereof. The ion exchange resin may also include one
selected from a group consisting of a strong acid type, a weak acid
type, a strong base type, a weak base type, a chelating type, an
amphoteric type, and a redox type, or a random combination
thereof.
[0030] Furthermore, the filter material may further include a solid
acid salt. The solid acid salt may include one selected from an
organic acid group consisting of citric acid, malic acid, oxalic
acid, acetic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, and lactic acid,
or a random combination thereof. The filter material may further
include a liquid acid which may be selected from an inorganic acid
group consisting of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and nitric
acid, or a random combination thereof.
[0031] In one embodiment of the invention, acid cation exchange
resins having function group H.sup.+ are capable of neutralizing
alkaline aerosol. The function group H.sup.+ of acid cation
exchange resins may be also replaced by heavy metal ions and then
the resins may adsorb ammonia. In one embodiment of the invention,
base anion exchange resins may react with alkaline aerosol and
ammonia by conducting an ion-exchange reaction and a neutralization
reaction respectively. Alkaline aerosol and ammonia may be also
adsorbed by the porosity of activated carbons. In one embodiment of
the invention, the solid acid salt or the liquid acid may remove
alkaline aerosol in a neutralization reaction. In addition, the
catalyst may not only increase the rate of the reaction between the
solid hydrogen fuel and water, but also remove alkaline aerosol and
ammonia.
[0032] With reference to sheet 1, detecting results for purifying
the hydrogen-rich gas mixture by using one or more than two kinds
of the filter materials. Experimental processes in accordance with
one embodiment of the invention as follows: water flows toward the
solid hydrogen fuel at a fixed pump rate of the pump 211; the
hydrogen-rich gas mixture 21a is produced by conducting the
reaction between the solid hydrogen fuel and water, and then flows
through one or more than two kinds of the filter materials so as to
generate the purified hydrogen gas 22a; and then collecting the
purified hydrogen gas 22a over time while the purified hydrogen gas
flow rate reaches an optimum value, e.g. 300 standard cubic
centimeter per minute (sccm); and then a detector is used to
measure ammonia concentration in the purified hydrogen gas 22a; and
then the purified hydrogen gas 22a is cool-condensed into a liquid;
detecting the pH value of the cool-condensed liquid. Besides,
ammonia concentration and pH value of the hydrogen-rich gas mixture
21a are also detected as a control group.
TABLE-US-00001 sheet 1 pH value of 20 min 45 min cool-condensed
filter material(s) ammonia (ppm) ammonia (ppm) liquid control group
2 2 >10 acid cation ND ND 7.8 exchange resin (IR-120) anion
exchange ND ND 6.8 resin (IRA-400) catalyst ND ND 7.6 IR-120 + 0.05
g ND ND 6.2 citrate acid IR-120 + 0.1 g ND ND 6.3 citrate acid +
catalyst
[0033] According to sheet 1, without any filter material (control
group), the hydrogen-rich gas mixture 21a contains ammonia at
concentration of 2 ppm and pH value of the cool-condensed liquid is
more than 10, showing that the hydrogen-rich gas mixture 21a
contains strong alkaline aerosol. After the hydrogen-rich gas
mixture 21a reacts with the filter material(s) listed in the sheet
1 respectively, no ammonia (the concentration thereof below about
0.1 ppm) in the purified hydrogen gas 22a is detected by the
detector and the pH values are dropped at 20 minutes and 45 minutes
after the start of the reaction. A conclusion can be drawn from the
embodiment of the invention that the filter materials of the
hydrogen purification device are capable of separating the hydrogen
gas from alkaline aerosol and ammonia.
[0034] A slightly acid condition is beneficial for the fuel cell
performance. Referring to the sheet 1, the filter materials
including strong acid cation exchange resins and citrate acid
result in the pH ranging from 6.2 to 6.3 as one of preferred
embodiment of the invention. In detail, as shown in FIG. 2, the
filter material, such as, the organic material 221 (e.g. strong
acid cation exchange resin) is disposed or attached on inner
peripheries of the container 220 and wraps the inorganic material
222 (e.g. activated carbon). The solid acid salt (e.g. citric acid)
or the liquid acid 223 is disposed on a side of the organic
material 221 and the inorganic material 222, and the side of the
organic material 221 and the inorganic material 222 is adjacent to
the first opening structure 23. An another organic material 224 may
be placed between the first opening structure 23 and the solid acid
salt 223 to enhance adsorption efficiency. Additionally, having a
lot of hydrophilic groups may absorb steam/water and swelling by
absorbing water after contacting with water, materials, such as
activated carbon, molecular sieves, ion exchange resin and water
absorbent polymers (hydro-absorbent macromolecules), are capable of
absorbing steam/water resulting from reaction-heat in the fuel
processor 20.
[0035] In one embodiment of the invention, the filter material may
further include water absorbent materials 225 and 226 disposed
adjacent to the first opening structure 23 and the second opening
structure 24 respectively for absorbing steam in the fuel processor
20 resulting from the reaction heat. The water absorbent materials
225 and 226 may include cotton fibers mixed with one selected from
a water absorbent polymer group consisting of polyacrylate,
polyvinyl alcohol, vinyl acetate copolymers, polyurethane,
polyethylene oxide, starch graft copolymers, rubber blends, and ion
exchange resin, or a random combination thereof. The water
absorbent materials 225 and 226 may also include cotton fibers
mixed with one selected from an inorganic water absorbent group
consisting of crystalline aluminum silicate, calcium chloride,
calcium oxide, anhydrous cobalt chloride, anhydrous copper sulfate,
silica gel, clay, alumina, activated carbon, zeolites, and
molecular sieves, or a random combination thereof. As a result, in
the embodiment of the invention, after the hydrogen-rich gas
mixture 21a flowing into the container 220 of the hydrogen
purification device 22 via the first opening structure 23 would
sequentially react with the water absorbent material 225, the
organic material 224, the solid acid salt 223, the combination of
the strong acid cation exchange resin 221 and the inorganic
material 222, and the water absorbent material 226 to generate the
purified hydrogen gas 22a. Finally, the purified hydrogen gas 22a
flows out of the container 220 via the second opening structure 24
into the fuel cell 30. Consequently, the purity of hydrogen gas may
be enhanced effectively by the hydrogen purification device 22 in
the embodiment.
[0036] The container 220 of the hydrogen purification device 22 may
be a pipe and made of hard materials or flexible materials, such
as, silica gel. An area of the filter material contacted with the
hydrogen-rich gas mixture 21a may be greatly increasing within a
limited space so as to noticeably enhance the purity of hydrogen
gas while the container 220 made of flexible materials has a curled
shape.
[0037] In one embodiment of the invention, the device for hydrogen
generation device 21 or the hydrogen purification device 22 may be
a replaceable cartridge in the fuel processor 20. It is convenient
for replacing a new hydrogen generation device 21 or a new hydrogen
purification device 22 in the fuel processor 20 as the solid
hydrogen fuel or water is completely exhausted or the filter
materials are completely saturated. Besides, the fuel processor 20
may be a replaceable cartridge in the portable power system of
hydrogen energy 100. With reference to FIG. 3, a fuel processor in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention is schematically
illustrated in a cross-section view. Inside the fuel processor 20,
the hydrogen-rich gas mixture 21a produced by reacting the solid
hydrogen fuel 213 with water flows upwards to the first opening
structure 23 of the hydrogen purification device 22. The fuel
processor 20 may have only one another opening namely the second
opening structure 24. Thus, the purified hydrogen gas 22a
automatically flows out of the fuel processor 20 via the second
opening structure 24 into the fuel cell 30.
[0038] In summary, the hydrogen purification device or the fuel
processor thereof in the invention may effectively remove ammonia
and alkaline aerosol which are harmful to health and has advantage
of concise installation, smaller volume, lighter weight, lower
cost, easier fabrication, longer serves life and higher
practicability for the portable power system of hydrogen energy.
Utilizing solid hydrogen fuel increases the service life of the
fuel processor 20, and the design of replaceable cartridge is easy
for users to change the cartridge, increasing practicability for
the portable power system of hydrogen energy.
[0039] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of
the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form or to exemplary embodiments
disclosed. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be
regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Obviously, many
modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners
skilled in this art. The embodiments are chosen and described in
order to best explain the principles of the invention and its best
mode practical application, thereby to enable persons skilled in
the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and
with various modifications as are suited to the particular use or
implementation contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the
invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their
equivalents in which all terms are meant in their broadest
reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Therefore, the term
"the invention" does not necessarily limit the claim scope to a
specific embodiment, and the reference to particularly preferred
exemplary embodiments of the invention does not imply a limitation
on the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The
invention is limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended
claims. The abstract of the disclosure is provided to comply with
the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher to
quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure of
any patent issued from this disclosure. It is submitted with the
understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the
scope or meaning of the claims. Any advantages and benefits
described may not apply to all embodiments of the invention. It
should be appreciated that variations may be made in the
embodiments described by persons skilled in the art without
departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the
following claims. Moreover, no element and component in the present
disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of
whether the element or component is explicitly recited in the
following claims.
[0040] Moreover, these claims may refer to use "first", "second",
etc. following with noun or element. Such terms should be
understood as a nomenclature and should not be construed as giving
the limitation on the number of the elements modified by such
nomenclature unless specific number has been given.
* * * * *